TODAY'S CHRISTIAN ENTERTAINMENT NAMES KIM GENTRY MEYER'S DEBUT PROJECT, HERALD, AS ONE OF THE TOP 12 ALBUMS OF 2023
Meyer, an Award-Winning Songwriter and Poet, and Mrs. Massachusetts 2020, is Honored by the Recognition so Early in Her Recording Career
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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 12, 2024) - Popular media outlet Today's Christian Entertainment has named new artist Kim Gentry Meyer's debut project, Herald, as one of the Top 12 albums of 2023.
In addition to Meyer, other artists on the list include Katy Nichole, Phil Wickham, Jason Gray, Christy Nockels, Cory Asbury, Riley Clemmons, and more.
In their recent review of Herald, Today’s Christian Entertainment says: "As messengers of God’s truth, it is our imperative to use whatever abilities He has bestowed upon us for His glory and the good of others. Kim Gentry Meyer does so with remarkable talent. With straightforward, delicate illustrations, much as an artist uses the strokes of a paintbrush to hint at the beauty of a flower, Herald skillfully and insightfully reminds us of God’s love and promises."
Meyer, an award-winning songwriter and poet
who won the title of Mrs. Massachusetts 2020 from the prestigious Mrs. America organization, was humbled to receive such recognition so early in her recording career.
"I'm so honored that Herald has been included with such established and esteemed artists on Today's Christian Entertainment's Top 12 Albums of 2023 list." says Meyer. "My mission is to be the Lord's "herald," to shine a light on the Lord's restoration and hope, and to be an encouragement to all who hear my album. I'm so glad listeners are feeling connected to that message. I'm looking forward to what 2024 brings, and to God be the Glory!"
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Popular media outlet Today's Christian Entertainment has named new artist Kim Gentry Meyer's debut project, Herald, as one of the Top 12 albums of 2023, alongside Katy Nichole, Phil Wickham, Jason Gray, Christy Nockels, Cory Asbury, Riley Clemmons, and more. Pictured: Meyer holds her original painting, which is the cover artwork for her debut project, Herald. (Photo by Jackelyn Dacanay)
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Herald, recently released on NWN Records, is distributed though Integrated Music Rights, part of the Integrity Music family.
Recently, Meyer released her beautiful debut video of the song “Mind of Christ” from Herald. The powerful song honestly addresses mental health and depression, and seeks to overcome the darkness by finding wholeness in faith.
"I think the message is one of the most important on the album,” says Meyer,“We all deal with mental struggles and feelings of sadness, depression, darkness, or just feeling a little down. There isn’t one person on earth that hasn’t struggled with this, especially with the pandemic."
“I can relate to this song personally and want others to know they are not alone, and that Jesus can restore their peace of mind," she continues. "The Christian community tends to shy away from talking about this topic, so I want to shine a light on it. The enemy does not want us to be mentally whole. The greatest battle is the battle for our minds!"
Meyer has been featured by multiple media outlets since this album's release, including The Christian Post's online lifestyle magazine, Crossmap.com, the award-winning talk show, Babbie's House, and many more.
To view Meyer’s interview feature in Crossmap.com, click here.
To view Meyer’s interview and performance on Babbie's House, click here.
"Kim Gentry Meyer and her music is such a breath of fresh air," says Chris Carpenter, Crossmap.com's managing editor. "Her ability to weave foundational truths from the Bible into her music is such a testament to her indelible hope in a great big God. And she's a great painter, too!"
For more information about Kim Gentry Meyer and Herald, visit kimgentrymeyer.com. To purchase or stream the project, click here. To view Meyer's debut music video, "Mind of Christ," click here.
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About Herald:
Kim Gentry Meyer's Herald project is built upon her lifelong foundation of faith and music. She grew up singing praises in church, taking up piano lessons at four years old, and competing against adults in classical piano contests by the age of ten.
Previously, she performed with her brother Chad in the vertically focused folk-pop duo, Berteal. The group’s name (which was their grandmother’s maiden name) celebrated their long line of family faith in Jesus.
Two of Meyer’s great-grandmothers were preachers and evangelists, suggesting that the seeds of her eventual ministry were sown in preceding generations.
“I was praying and told the Lord that I really felt like I needed more specific direction in terms of what I should do next, and I needed to know more specifically who I am to Him,” Meyer recalls of the period that prompted her current collection of songs. “I heard Him say to my spirit so clearly, ‘You are my herald.’ It felt right to name the album Herald to honor that conversation."
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Mrs. Massachusetts 2020, award-winning songwriter and poet Kim Gentry Meyer, recently released Herald, her debut album from NWN Records and Integrated Music Rights, part of the Integrity Music family. (Cover art by Kim Gentry Meyer and cover design by Nolan Sisk)
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On Herald, Meyer pays tribute to her folk-pop roots while offering a variety of sonic approaches to meet listeners where they are.
The entire project is bound to appeal to fans of Nicole Nordeman and Judy Collins. With eight original songs, all beautifully crafted and heavily rooted in scripture, Kim's distinctive, gently transcendent vocals and folk-pop stylings are bolstered by the pristine production of Karl Anderson, who also serves as a periodic co-writer.
The first song on the project, the folk-flavored “This Isn’t Heaven,” co-written with Anderson, points to the value of planting one’s life in biblical truths, rather than merely climbing the ladder of worldly success or chasing after material possessions.
Next is the beautiful “Mind of Christ,” followed by “You’ll Find Me There,” originally written as a poem that resulted in Meyer being named a 2023 Woody Guthrie Poet, is a gorgeously tranquil song that was initially inspired by a sermon addressing social justice from a biblical standpoint, though it is just as suitable for a moment of corporate worship or perhaps even a communion service.
The inspirational pop of “Remain In You” taps into the Word, bolstered by the reminder, “If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” Up-tempo, breezy rhythms surround “Spirit Of God” as it explores the roles, work, and person of the Holy Spirit. The beautiful piano ballad, “Perfect Love,” was written by Kim for an Easter service as a simple way to share the Gospel with visitors and newcomers.
“We Surrender To Love” was co-written with Adam Russell, Director of Vineyard Worship USA. With its chilling, instantly memorable chord progressions, the song serves as an empowering call to repentance as it boldly asserts, Holy Spirit, come revive this generation / and restore to us the joy of our salvation.
And rounding out the album is the string-adorned “Full Circle,” which is intended as both an evangelism tool to get people thinking about where their hope lies, and a comfort and encouragement to believers who are approaching the end of this life.
The theme of restoration shines throughout Herald, which Meyer ultimately hopes will lead listeners to lift their hands in praise and be encouraged no matter what season they may be walking through.
In her own life, Meyer has experienced a dramatic restoration in her marriage that can only be attributed to the grace of God. “My husband and I had a tremendous amount of stress and strain on our marriage in the early years, and it culminated in us divorcing,” she says. “However, the Lord healed our relationship, reconciled our marriage and made it even stronger. We remarried many years ago, but we still give God the glory every day. God is a God of reconciliation!”
Beyond the music, Meyer, a visual artist in the impressionist/expressionist tradition, personally painted not only the beautiful artwork for the Herald cover, but eight individual sunset pieces--one to accompany each track on the album. “The sunsets signify the whole idea of being a herald to proclaim the coming of the Lord,” she reveals.
“I hope this sacrifice of praise will honor and glorify the Lord, be used to reach people with the Gospel for the first time, and be a light and an encouragement to draw people back to the Lord,” she sums up.
“I was asked recently what I want to be remembered for,” says Meyer. “This is how I answered: 'As an encourager. As a generous person. As someone who was committed to her faith and tried to share it in the ways she knew how. As someone who inspired people to help cats and dogs. As someone who cared very much about those who were hurting.' I feel this project touches on many of these things and is part of my legacy. Overall, I want this body of work to serve as my bearing witness to the Lord’s Word, His greatness, His promises, and His return…to be His herald.”
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About Kim Gentry Meyer:
Mrs. Massachusetts 2020, award-winning songwriter and poet Kim Gentry Meyer is also an International Acoustic Music Award winner and a finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition.
She has showcased at esteemed venues including the Blue Bird Café in Nashville, Tennessee, and the SXSW Festival (South by Southwest) in Austin, Texas.
Meyer was recently named a 2023 Woody Guthrie Poet and was invited to read her newly published poem, “You’ll Find Me There” (which appears in song form on her new album) during the 2023 Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, which celebrates the life and work of the late legendary singer/songwriter best known for his song, “This Land is Your Land.”
She is also an accomplished visual artist, and painted the album cover art for her debut project, Herald, which recently released from NWN Records and Integrated Music Rights, part of the Integrity Music family.
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Mrs. Massachusetts 2020, award-winning songwriter and poet Kim Gentry Meyer, released her debut music video, "Mind of Christ," on November 3, 2023. The new video, from Meyer's new Herald project, releases through NWN Records and Integrated Music Rights, part of the Integrity Music family. (Photo by Jackelyn Dacanay)
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Alongside her ministry and her work in the arts, Meyer, who holds a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in social work, is a professional fundraiser whose proposals have raised a whopping $25 million for various non-profit organizations.
She and her husband Adam currently live on Cape Cod with a home full of personally rescued dogs and cats.
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To schedule an interview, contact:
McCain & Co. Public Relations
Phone: 615-262-1727
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